Sealing grommet assembly with integral wire channel

Abstract

A sealing grommet assembly for use with a panel and a wire bundle includes first and second grommets, a cable guide, and an annular retainer. The first grommet defines a first conduit and a first set of sealing lips. The second grommet defines a second conduit and a second set of sealing lips. The cable guide is positioned within the first and second conduits, and receives and supports the wire bundle. The annular retainer is encapsulated by the first and second grommets, and has a first set of axially-projecting latch fingers that secures the first and second grommets to each other. The retainer also has a second set of axially-projecting latch fingers that secures the first and second grommets to the panel. The sealing lips form a seal against opposite sides of the panel when the sealing grommet assembly is secured to the panel via the annular retainer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sealing grommet assembly for use with a panel and a wire bundle, the sealing grommet assembly comprising:
 a first grommet defining a first conduit and a first set of sealing lips; 
 a second grommet defining a second conduit and a second set of sealing lips; 
 a cable guide, positioned within the first and second conduits, configured to receive and support the wire bundle; and 
 an annular retainer encapsulated by the first and second grommets, and having a first set of axially-projecting latch fingers securing the first and second grommets to each other, and also having a second set of axially-projecting latch fingers securing the first and second grommets to the panel; 
 wherein the first and second sets of sealing lips are configured to form a seal against opposite sides of the panel when the sealing grommet assembly is secured to the panel via the annular retainer. 
 
     
     
       2. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second grommets are constructed of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EDPM) rubber. 
     
     
       3. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cable guide is constructed of molded nylon or plastic. 
     
     
       4. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of sealing lips includes three sealing lips and the second set of sealing lips includes two sealing lips. 
     
     
       5. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cable guide includes a semicircular wire guide channel configured to receive the wire bundle and positioned within the second conduit, and wherein the second conduit is a cylindrical tube. 
     
     
       6. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cable guide includes a rectangular housing configured to receive the wire bundle and positioned in the first conduit, and wherein the first conduit is a rectangular box. 
     
     
       7. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first set axially-projecting latch fingers include radially-extending latches, and wherein the second grommet defines a plurality of recesses each of which receives one of the radially-extending latches. 
     
     
       8. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each latch finger of the first set axially-projecting latch fingers has a U-shaped profile. 
     
     
       9. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each latch finger of the second set axially-projecting latch fingers includes a radially-extending latch that engages the panel. 
     
     
       10. The sealing grommet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of axially-projecting latch fingers latch fingers are alternatively and equally spaced around a perimeter of the annular retaining ring.